Man assaulted Sunday night in La Mesa

LA MESA  A 22-year-old man was attacked and robbed by three people Sunday night in La Mesa, police said.

The victim was walking south on Spring Street near Palm Avenue about 6:45 p.m. when he realized he was being followed by three black males, police said. One of them punched the victim twice in the face and demanded his cell phone.

The victim dropped his phone to the ground, and one of the assailants picked it up before the three ran away, police said. The victim was not seriously injured in the attack.

Two of the thieves were 18 to 20 years old, and the other 13 to 14 years old, police said. The man who hit the victim was about 6 feet 2 inches tall and wearing a gray sweatshirt.

Police did not know the heights or weights of the other two robbers. The adult was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, and the youth was wearing a beanie hat.

Anyone with information on the assault can call police at (619) 667-1400 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, where tips can be left anonymously.